The leukemias represent diffuse lesions of the bone marrow and significant bony abnormalities are associated with the more aggressive varieties of leukemias and with the younger age groups.
On plain film, several roentgenographic findings are observed such as diffuse osteopenia, radiolucent metaphyseal bands, osteolytic lesions and periostitis.
We evaluated bone scintigraphic findings using 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) in ten patients with proven leukemia.
The scan is abnormal in 90%. We classified abnormal scintigraphic findings to 3 types and these are increased diffuse juxta-articular uptake, focal increase of uptake and combined type. The common sites of focal uptake were femur, humerus, tibia,
spine,
ribs, calvarium, scapula and mandible.
We concluded that 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy is sensitive imaging modality in leukemic patients with bone pain.
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